NSU’s VC Becomes Permanent Board Member of National Tech Institute
Recently, the vice-chancellor of National Skills University Islamabad (NSU) has been honored as a permanent member of the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Technology, a federal institution with its head office in Lahore. This recognition, established under Clause 23(j) of the institute’s act, follows the recent approval of legislation by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and subsequent assent by the President of Pakistan.
This unprecedented appointment marks the first time, or perhaps a few others in the country, that a public-sector university leader has been granted a permanent governance role in a private-sector university in Pakistan. Prof. Mukhtar hailed the decision as a significant milestone, underscoring the growing stature of skills-based education and the recognition of NSU’s governance model within an impressively short five-year span.
Under the visionary leadership of its founding Vice Chancellor, NSU Islamabad has rapidly emerged as a pioneer in contemporary vocational and technical education. Prof. Mukhtar and his team have earned numerous national and international accolades, solidifying the university’s reputation as a center of excellence. Most recently, the Vice Chancellor, Additional Registrar, and four other senior faculty members were awarded the prestigious Badge of Excellence by the European Training Foundation, a star project of the European Union. This honor recognizes professionals committed to self-assessment and the continuous enhancement of vocational education. The Badge of Excellence is conferred upon individuals who actively engage in institutional improvement, fostering a culture of innovation and academic rigor. This latest recognition reaffirms NSU’s unwavering dedication to elevating the standards of technical and vocational education in Pakistan and beyond.
As a UNESCO-UNEVOC center, NSU continues to strengthen its footprint in international technical education networks. The university has more than two dozen active global partnerships, advancing Pakistan’s position in the global vocational education landscape. Among its most promising initiatives, NSU has launched a program in Mechanical Engineering Technology that offers students a fully funded one-year scholarship to gain hands-on experience in China’s industrial sector before completing their degrees.
Furthermore, NSU is a key partner in the Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) initiative, a prestigious program sponsored by the German government under the UNESCO-UNEVOC umbrella. This collaboration aims to modernize technical and vocational education across multiple regions, equipping students with the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving global workforce.
NSU Islamabad’s rapid rise as a hub for vocational excellence underscores the potential of skills-based education to drive economic development. The university’s proactive engagement in international collaborations and industry-driven learning models reflects a forward-thinking approach that sets new benchmarks in higher education governance.
With this latest recognition, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar’s leadership continues to shape the future of Pakistan’s technical education sector, bridging the gap between academia and industry while fostering a new generation of skilled professionals poised for global success.
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